Robert Osserman

Robert Osserman is an American mathematician.

Raised in Bronx, he went to Bronx High School of Science (diploma, 1942) and New York University.He earned a Ph.D. (1955) from Harvard University on the thesis "Contributions to the Problem of Type" (on Riemann surfaces) advised by Lars Ahlfors. [ [http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=8307 entry] at Mathematics Genealogy Project]

He joined Stanford University (1957) where he is now a professor emeritus.At the same place he joined the
Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (1990). [ [http://www.msri.org/people/staff/osserman/ biopage] at MSRI] He worked on geometric function theory,
differential geometry, the two integrated in a the theory of minimal surfaces,
isoperimetric inequality, and other issues in the areas of astronomy, geometry, cartography and complex function theory. Osserman has also been head of mathematics at Office of Naval Research, a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Paris and Guggenheim Fellow at the University of Warwick. He has edited numerous books and promoted mathematics, such as ininterviews with celebrities Steve Martin [ [http://www.siam.org/news/news.php?id=314 Mathematical One-Liners Exert a Magical Draw] (April 30, 2003)] and Alan Alda [ [http://www.msri.org/communications/pressrelease/attachments/Alda_20070117.pdf From M*A*S*H to M*A*T*H: Alan Alda in person] from MSRI (Jan 17, 2008)]

Books

*"Two-dimensional calculus" (Krieger, 1977)
*"Survey of minimal surfaces" (1986)
*"Poetry of the universe — a mathematical exploration of the cosmos" (Random House, 1995)

Awards

*John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellow (1976)
*2003 Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award.

References